Automatic davit fall-block.



No. 852,533. I PATENTED MAY 7, 1907. G. B. WICKS.

'AUTOMATIC DAVI'I' FALL BLOCK. APPLI ATION FILED JAN.10.1906.

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Parana? FFICIE.

CHARLES E. WVICKS, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

AUTOMATIC DAVIT FALL-BLOCK.

I No. 852,533.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1907.

Application filed January 10,1906. Serial No. 295,495.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CIIARLEs E. VVIOKs, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Davit Fall-Blockaof which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic davit fall blocks, the object of the invention being to provide a block of the character referred to for lowering boats from a large vessel into the water and adapting the boat to be re leased or uncoupled automatically from the davit blocks as soon as the boat rests on the surface of the water and without any attention whatever on the part of the occupant of the boat.

WVith the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a davit block embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the lower portion of the block. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 1 is a detail front elevation showing a modified form of pin actuating spring. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the pin.

Like reference numerals designate correspending parts in all the figures.

In the drawings I have illustrated a familiar form of davit fall block embodying the usual frame or body 1 and pulleys 2 journaled therein.

In carrying out the present invention the ends 3 of the metal strap are provided with holes 1 to receive a sliding pin 5 which is adapted to be withdrawn to one side far enough to leave a clear open and unobstructed space between the strap ends 3. The pin 5, when in place as shown in Fig. 1, is adapted to pass through one of the rings or shackles carried by the boat to be raised or lowered with respect to the davits, such ring or shackle surrounding the pin 5 between the strap ends 3 in a manner familiar to those acquainted with the art to which this invention appertains.

At one end the pin is slotted as shown at 6, to receive the slotted ear 7, the slot in said ear receiving a pin or key 8 carried by the coupling pin 5 and extending transversely across the slot 6 as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The slotted ear 7 is carried by the free end of a flat spring 9 which is riveted or otherwise fastened to the strap of the block as indicated in Fig. 1. The tendency of the spring 9 is to move outward as to its free end which has the effect of withdrawing the coupling pin 5 and thereby releasing the ring or shackle of the boat.

In order to hold the pin 5 in place while lowering the boat I employ a latch 10 in the form of a lever pivoted at 11 on one of the strap ends as shown in Fig. 3, said latch lever being provided at one end with a thumb piece 12 and at the other end with a pin or projection 13 which enters a corresponding hole or notch 14 in the adjacent endof the coupling pin 5. To prevent the entire withdrawal of the coupling pin after it has been released by the latch lever, the said coupling pin is provided with a stop or projection 15 which passes through a notch 16 in one of the strap ends and enters a corresponding notch 17 extending only part way through the other strap end as shown in Fig. 2. This brings the coupling pin to a stop before it passes out of the strap end adjacent to the pin drawing spring 9. The pin is replaced by pressing the same inward to overcome the tension of the spring 9 and then moving the projection 13 of the latch lever 10 into engagement with the hole 14. in the coupling pin.

Instead of employing. a flat spring 9 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I may utilize a spiral spring 18 coiled around the coupling pin 5 and housed within an extension 19 of one of the strap ends and pressing outward against a head 20 or other form of shoulder on the p'xtremity of the coupling pin as shown in In lowering the boat with the aid of the block above described, after the boat has been hung upon the coupling pins 5 of the block, it is only necessary to disengage the latch levers from the coupling pins before the boat is lowered or while it is being lowered. The weight of the boat on the blocks will prc; vent the coupling pins from being withdrawn but as soon as such weight is removed by the boat resting on the water, the pins 5 will be released and immediately withdrawn by means of the springs associated therewith for that purpose. It will thus be seen that the boat is automatically released. Should it be desired to keep the boat in tow for a time,

the latch levers may be left interlocked with the coupling pins which will prevent the Withdrawal of said pins. The invention will be found especially useful in a sea way where, on account of the motion of asmall boat, it is often times a matter of extreme difficulty and danger to successfully disconnect the davit blocks from the boat.

It is obvious that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is: A

1. A pulley block provided with a strap having projecting end portions set apart, a coupling pin mounted to slide'through openings in said projecting ends of the strap, a latch for holding said coupling pin in coupling position, and a spring engaging said pin for withdrawing the same from coupling position when released by said latch.

2. The combination with a pulley block, of a coupling pin carried thereby, a pin drawing the block and having projecting ends which are deflected toward each other and then ex tended straight to their extremities which are left separated, a coupling pin slidable through said strap ends, and means for automatically moving said coupling pin out of coupling position.

4. The combination with a pulley block, of a coupling pin carried thereby, and a pin drawing spring on the block connected with the pin and adapted to withdraw the same from coupling position when relieved of weight.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. VVICKS. Witnesses:

A. O. DOUGLASS, O. E. KNowL'roN. 

